Hike To An Abandoned Village And King’s Hollow Tunnel In Ohio

Hiking in Ohio can lead to some interesting pieces of the past.

By now, you’ve likely heard of (and explored) the abandoned Moonville Tunnel. But did you know there’s also another abandoned railroad tunnel and ghost town remnants hiding in Athens County just a few miles away? Most people don’t, however, it’s just as intriguing to explore—and this one, thankfully, isn’t haunted. (Not that we know of anyway.) If you've ever wanted to explore an abandoned village along one of the most fascinating hiking trails in Ohio, what's left of the small town of Mineral will likely satisfy your curiosity. It's not as spooky as other abandoned and haunted places in Ohio, but it's fascinating.

Located less than three miles from the ghost town of Moonville, what's left of Mineral is also hiding in the middle of Zaleski State Forest. You'll head down Rock Camp Rd., just off of King Hollow Trail (pictured).

To reach the ghost town, you'll head down Rock Camp Rd., just off of King Hollow Trail. If you don't want to hike through Moonville as well, you can park near the intersection of King Hollow Trail and Rockcamp Road.

Since the Moonville Rail Trail, (which runs from Zaleski to Athens), is county property, take note to follow the guidelines of the posted signs.

King's Hollow Tunnel, (also known as "Mineral Tunnel", "King’s Switch Tunnel," "King's Station Tunnel" and "King’s Tunnel"), sits on the same old rail line as the Moonville Tunnel.

The tunnel was built around 1855 by the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad. The tunnel later became part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and then the CSX, before it was abandoned in the 1980s. Now it's part of one of the best hikes to abandoned places in the state.

The town of Mineral was heavily involved in the mining and iron manufacturing industries during the 19th-century.

Pictured above is an 1867 map of Kings Station and Mineral City. Today, the ghost town is simply referred to as Mineral.

This timber-lined tunnel is now abandoned, making it a really unique hiking destination for Ohio explorers interested in the area's coal mining and railroad history.

A bit longer than the Moonville Tunnel, King's Hollow Tunnel measures 355.2 feet long and 15 feet wide.

Near the tunnel, you'll find other remnants of what was once part of the ghost town of Kings Station. Pictured is an abandoned home.

(Please note: Remember to observe the ghost town remnants from afar, as abandoned buildings can be dangerous.)

So, do you think this is one of the best hikes in Ohio? Would you explore this tunnel and abandoned trail? If you have, please share your photos and stories with us!